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March 02 2004

Funeral services for 93 year old Veva Copeland of Kennebec will be Tuesday, March 2, 2004 at 2:00 P.M. at the United Methodist Church in Kennebec. Burial will be in the Kennebec Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 1:00-8:00 P.M. at the Wevik Funeral Chapel in Chamberlain.

Veva Heston (and twin sister Neva) was born April 28, 1910 of parents Ray and Lela (Coulter) Heston on the family homestead near the post office of Twlight, 30 miles north of Newell, SD. The Heston family moved to the Kennebec area when Veva was a baby, and most of her life since was spent in this area. She attended rural schools and graduated from the Kennebec High School. After taking her teacher training at Springfield, SD, Veva taught in rural schools in the Kennebec vicinity.

She was united in marriage to Percy Copeland in Pierre, SD on June 29, 1935. They made their home on the ranch until moving to Kennebec in 1973. Veva was the proud mother of Wayne Copeland and Ila Craig. Veva and Percy celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1985. She was a 4-H leader for 31 years, a Sunday school teacher for 20 years and was the clerk for Dorman Township for 20 years. She was a member of the United Methodist Church Women and also a member of the Busy Bee Club for 69 years. In 1956 Veva was chosen Honored Homemaker for the Little International at South Dakota State University in Brookings.

Veva passed away on Feb. 26, 2004 at the Mid Dakota Long-term Care Center in Chamberlain at the age of 93 years, 9 months and 30 days. She is survived by her son, Wayne (Alta) Copeland of Kennebec and daughter, Ila (Jim) Craig of Ivins, Utah; grandchildren, Dale (Michele) Copeland, Teri Copeland, Jackie (Jim deceased) Andrew, Rick (Amy) Craig and Joel (Juliette) Craig; great grandchildren, Kelsey Andrew and Wren Craig Cilimburg. She is also survived by her sisters: Ethel Riggs of Kennebec, Phyllis Portillo of Yankton; and a brother, Rex (Agnes) Heston of Wadena, MN. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Percy in September 1991; her twin sister, Neva Matheson, and four other sisters: Myrtle Heston, Polly Heston, Vera Faber, and Louise Johnson; a brother, Delbert Heston; and a great grandson, Aaron Copeland.